Chiltern Birder

 I have been seeing reports online of waxwings and redwings in good number. At home the blackbirds have long since stripped the rowan of berries and I don't hold out hope of anything exciting. The back garden has been very quiet, not helped by neighbours having an extension built. Recently a flock of blue tits invaded the garden going, I think, for insects sheltering in battening attached to the back wall. I disinfected one my my feeders and put out a small quantity of sunflower hearts. The flock, including a few great tits, reappeared and had me thinking that it was time to put out the other feeders. However they left without finishing what was there and the garden has been devoid of birds ever since. The front garden has been a different matter although all birds have been commonplace. I have a small hanging table on which I put a mix of fat pellets, dried mealworms and pinhead oatmeal. The robin isn't tame but he is usually sitting in a tree complaining about my presence by

 The garden has been disturbingly quiet this month when traditionally the feeders will be continously active. I am seeing a handful of blue and great tits on the feeders but no finches and only the occasional long tailed tit. Normally I woukld expect goldfinches and a few bullfinches on the feeders and chaffinches and redpolls on the ground at this time of year. It has been a strange winter, very mild apart from one cold snap so I hope that they are simply don't need to come into the gardens. On a better note I saw a pair of sparrows in the front hedge this morning so, hopefully, they might be spreading from their stronghold in privet hedges at the other end of the village. Away from home a family trip to Yorkshire netted three pairs of goosander on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Shipley and Saltaire. I think this is the first time that I have been close enough to get a good naked eye view. I have been neglecting this blog, probably because most web browsing is now done on t